All posts tagged Randy Blythe

Prague, Czech Republic’s High Court upheld LAMB OF GOD frontman Randy Blythe‘s “not guilty” verdict earlier today (Wednesday, June 5) in connection with the death of a fan three years ago. The court’s decision is final.

A three-judge panel on March 5 acquitted Blythe of manslaughter in the death of 19-year-old Daniel Nosek.

Following the judges’ announcement three months ago, the State Attorney immediately appealed the verdict.

“I have been found not guilty and acquitted of all charges against me. I am a free man,” Blythe posted on his Instagram account following the March 5 verdict. “Please remember the family of Daniel Nosek in your thoughts and prayers in this difficult time. I only wish for them peace. Thank you for your support.”

Blythe was facing the possibility of conviction and a long-term jail sentence after a May 2010 incident in which Nosek, who attended a LAMB OF GOD performance in Prague, died almost a month later, allegedly from injuries sustained when he was thrown off the stage.

Though Blythe faced up to 10 years in prison, during the closing argument, prosecutors only asked the judge for the minimum sentence of five years.

LAMB OF GOD frontman Randy Blythe — who was found not guilty of manslaughter on March 5 by a panel of Czech judges in the concert death of one of the Richmond, Virginia-based metal band’s fans — has posted the following blog entry entitled “Be Carefully”:

“When I was a little boy, just learning to talk and still figuring out the intricacies of the English language, I would caution others to ‘be carefully.’ Little kids say the funniest things, and they say these things with the sincerity and urgency of those whose possess an extremely limited vocabulary. I don’t remember ever saying ‘be carefully,’ but my 92-year-old grandmother loves to tell me about it. ‘I would be getting in the car to go to the grocery store, and you would look at me and say, ‘Be carefully, Grandma!’ You were such a funny child.’ she laughs.

“I love my Grandma. She was the first person I saw at the airport when I was released from prison, in the front of a crowd, up past midnight and her bedtime, a tiny 92-year-old country woman standing on her own two feet, waiting to see one of her family walking free in his home country. I hugged her, told her I loved her, and scolded her for being up so late. And I go see her now as often as I can. I get to hug her, kiss her cheek, tell her I love her, smell her hair, and listen to her wisdom. It fills me with a happiness I cannot describe when I look at her hands, the hands that cooked me so many meals for as long as I can remember. She is beautiful to me. I am lucky she is in my life, and she is so happy I am in hers, not in a prison in a foreign land. We get to be together, as family is supposed to be, and my life is full.

“I am a very lucky man.

“If you are reading this, more than likely you were directed here by a link on some heavy metal news site. That means that more than likely you know who I am, what I do for a living, and why I went to prison and then to trial for manslaughter in the Czech Republic earlier this year and last. This also probably means that you are part of my extended music family, and in all likelihood have seen either my band or at least one other band of the metal/punk/hardcore/hard rock genre perform in concert before. You have witnessed the kind of activity that occurs at these shows, and maybe even have participated yourself at some point. Moshing, slam dancing, crowd surfing, and stage diving — these things are a unique part of our scene; the ways some of us express ourselves, shed our cares for an hour or two, and enjoy this music that makes us feel so alive. I grew up in the punk/hardcore scene doing all of the above mentioned things, and I have the lumps, aches, and scars to prove it. I am just like you, just probably a little older and uglier.

“When I returned to Prague for trial, answering the charge of killing a young man named Daniel Nosek who was a fan of my band, one of the biggest hurdles I and my legal team faced was attempting to explain the atmosphere of a heavy metal show, trying to get across to three Czech judges how smashing into other people and flying through the air over a crowd in the hopes of being caught was a normal thing. From the perspective of folks who are not a part of our scene, these seem to be the actions of insane people.

“Why would anyone do such a thing? You could be severely injured.

“Over and over throughout my trial, the witnesses and myself were asked if we knew what ‘stage diving’ and ‘moshing’ were, then asked to explain these things. Slowly, through a translator and with the help of videos we put together, we tried our best to show that the aggressive nature of our music and other bands like mine was not an expression of malice. My character was questioned again and again, several witnesses saying ludicrous things like how my quick onstage movements, my deep voice, my profuse sweating, and how I dumped water over my head (astoundingly, I do it because I’m sweaty and hot) was clearly evidence of the fact that I was drunk, on some sort of drugs, and yes, even evil. I was sober as a judge that night, thank God, and I know I never intended anyone harm, otherwise I would not have been able to fight for my freedom. I would have had to tell the judges ‘I do not know what happened. Maybe I did try to hurt this man. I just do not know. I cannot remember — I was drunk.’ As a sober, responsible adult, my conscience would not have allowed otherwise.

“Sober or not, convincing these judges that our show and others like it aren’t some sort violently nihilistic orgy of hate and self-destruction took a little doing. Explaining via a state-supplied translator what you and I take for granted as people having fun at a show was one of the biggest challenges I have ever faced. It was like trying to tell a person who has been blind from birth what the color purple looks like. People outside of our scene cannot be expected to understand the way we act at shows without a lengthy explanation, and even then they may just think you are crazy. But in the end I was exonerated, and I am a free man as of this moment.

“The family of Daniel Nosek never attacked me in the press. They never wished me ill, either publicly or privately. They did not smear my name in front of any judge, prosecutor, or police officer, did not stare at me malevolently in the court room. For this I am eternally grateful to them. I certainly would understand if they had, and would have made no attempt to dissuade them from holding a low opinion of me, for all they knew about me was what the Czech press had initially published — a picture of me as a barbaric murderous American with evil intent. I know what it feels like to hold my dead child in my arms. The emotions one goes through are absolutely indescribable. If I had had a finger to point at someone for taking my daughter from me, I probably would have, especially if there had been the sort of media circus that surrounded my arrest.

“Daniel‘s family did not point any fingers at me. They just wanted to know the truth of what had happened to their son, so they came to court and listened as I did my best to provide them with what I knew. Before the verdict was delivered, the uncle of Daniel (who was the family’s representative in court) told the judge that no amount of money was going to bring their boy back, and after hearing the evidence, withdrew the family’s motion against me for damages. He also wanted me to know that Daniel had died on his father’s birthday, and that Daniel‘s mother had been unable to function at her job since Daniel‘s death.

“That was it. They didn’t want anything from me in that courtroom except for me to understand how this had affected them. There was no malice, just the real, honest, pain that I was already regrettably so familiar with. It was one of the most amazing displays of strength and dignity I have ever witnessed.

“When the verdict was read, that I had been exonerated, I tried my best to act with dignity, to show no emotion. Perhaps one day I will be able to express what I felt when I finally learned I was to remain free, but right now I am still trying to understand it. Relief, certainly, but there was a greater part welling up in me, something like disbelief saturated with a deep sadness. A fan of my band was dead, and a family had been shattered. I did not feel like celebrating. I did not feel like going home. I did not feel like staying. I did not know what to do or where to go. It was all very overwhelming. Thankfully, Daniel‘s family had provided me with one last task before I left Prague. His uncle had asked me earlier that day if we could meet privately after the trial. This was a request I was more than willing to honor. Arrangements were made, and I left court to prepare to meet with him and Daniel‘s mother.

“I cannot tell you what it is like to look into the eyes of a mother whose son is dead as result of attending a concert by your group, his favorite band. I cannot tell you what it is like to hold her tiny hands as she weeps for her dead boy; to hold those hands in your large hands, the same hands accused of killing her son. I cannot tell you in any words what it’s like to feel that grief for her lost only child pouring off of her small frame in a massive dark wave of sorrow, to see that pain again in another, so visceral that your body shakes with the awful power and totality of it. These are things that mere words will never be able to convey.

“Certain details of the conversation I had with Daniel‘s uncle and mother I will never write about, because I do not feel it would be proper or respectful. Suffice it say, they were very kind to me, and let me know they didn’t have any sort of vendetta against me, or wish to see me to suffer further because of Daniel‘s death. But there are two things they said that I will write about here, because I think that it is in accordance with the only two things his family ever asked of me.

“As we sat on a couch crying, the first tears I had allowed myself since my arrest, Daniel‘s mother asked me if one day I would play a song for him somewhere. I was astounded by the grace with which she asked me this. Her small request was an immense gift to me, a man who was trying to figure out how he would continue to do the only thing he knew how to do after so many years.

“I will sing many songs for him.

“Then, as Daniel‘s uncle and mother began to leave my rented apartment, his uncle reiterated something he and the mother had brought up earlier.

“‘Remember — you can be a spokesperson for safer shows. You have that power. Good luck, man. Go live your life.’

“I promised I would.

“And so they left me, to return to their town to try and rebuild their lives the best they could. I walked into the apartment and continued to fall apart. I don’t remember how long I cried, or what happened over the next two or three hours. But I remembered their words.

“In a day, I will leave for the first tour LAMB OF GOD has done since my trial finished. This is part of my attempt to make good on a promise I made to the family of a dead fan of my band.

“If you are in a band, remember what has happened to me, to Daniel, and to his family. If you are playing a show, make sure that security is adequate and that barricades are properly placed. A dead fan of my band would still be alive today if those two things had been in place in Prague that night in 2010. I never saw that stage before I set foot on it, and I wish I could go back in time, inspect that nightmare set up, let the people in charge know that they did not fulfill a vital part of the contract we sent out, tell my crew to pull our gear out of there, and leave that town. But I cannot go back in time, I never had the chance to see that stage, Daniel is dead, and I can only warn you band guys and girls to make sure the venue and promoter are holding up their end of the contract. Do not settle for less. This is a matter of life and death, as I can sadly attest.

“If you are a promoter or club manager/owner, make sure your security and barricades are sufficient for the event you will be having on any given night. Security is there to protect the band, the fans, and your business. If you cannot provide a safe environment for a show that requires security and barricades, do not have it. You have no business playing around with people’s lives for a few extra dollars. No amount of money is worth the risk of someone dying in your establishment. Your club will probably shut down anyway, because no one will want to play there. All of us in bands talk amongst each other, and if you’re shady, we will all eventually know.

“If you are a fan coming to a LAMB OF GOD show and are planning on stage diving, know that in no uncertain terms you are not welcome on our stage. Some bands encourage fans on stage — I know a few, and that is their prerogative. As a band, we have never allowed or encouraged fans to come onstage — it’s impossible to play and dangerous for us and the fans if someone is running all over the place knocking into us and the equipment. Now, with all that has happened, this policy is in place more than ever. Absolutely no one is welcome on the stage if we have not invited you up there, and unless you are a small child or in a wheelchair, that is not likely to happen. Please respect this. If you do take the stage, we will immediately stop playing, you will be removed from the stage with great swiftness ,and thrown out of the show with no refund, no questions asked. I do not care one bit if anyone thinks I’m being a jerk for writing this or feels I am being harsh. I have been through hell over the last year, I did my best to do the right thing, I am still trying my best to do the right thing, and anyone who cannot understand why we as a band feel this way is a complete and utter idiot who probably shouldn’t be allowed to leave their house anyway. So try not to ruin everybody else’s good time, OK? People pay their hard-earned money to see a show, not you interrupt a band’s set while you make jackass out of yourself. You buying a ticket does not entitle you to get on stage.

“If you are a fan and are going to a lamb of god show or ANY SHOW where there will be moshing, crowd surfing, etc. — know that what you are doing carries a risk. Use your brain — if it is too rough for you, get out before you get hurt. If you are wasted on whatever, please realize that you are not a stuntman, sit your ass down at the bar, and relax. Being obliterated is not conducive to injury free concert activities. Also, for Pete’s sake, if you are moshing and someone falls down, PICK THEM UP. We have stopped shows before because people have been getting hurt, and we will do it again. This is our community, and we should take care of each other. A show is a place we are supposed to be together, having a good time, supporting one another. The real world will beat you down enough — we don’t need to get stomped on at a show. Give each other a hand.

“If you want to crowd surf, know this — if someone drops you, you could die. Instantly. That’s just the truth. I don’t know any other way to say it.

“Please don’t drive home if you are drunk. Assuming you don’t die, you could kill someone else and wind up in prison. Prison is not a fun place to be. Just take my word on it, OK?

“I am not writing all of this to tell people to not have fun, to not get out aggression in a healthy way, or to be a joy kill. I’m not telling you what to do (except to stay off our stage), because that does no good. Plus, I have more scars and badly healed aching bones from shows than I can count. I am just like you, a fan of this music who loves to have a good time at a show. I’m just begging you please to use your head and to be respectful of others. I love the energy of a good show, I love providing the fans with the same cathartic release I’ve gotten from watching bands so many times, I love leaving it all on the floor for the people. It’s what I do, and I love it.

“I do not love the fact that a fan of my band will never watch the sunset again like I did today. I do not love the fact that he will never get to spend time with his family again, like I have been doing over the last two months. I do not love the fact that he will never get the chance to marry a good woman one day, like I have done. I do not love the fact that his branch of the family name will die with him, as he was an only child. I do not love the fact that his family hurts more than anyone who hasn’t lost a child can ever imagine.

“I do not love the fact that he will never listen to music again.

“I did not know Daniel, but I have been told he was a good kid. Now he is dead. Gone. In a split second, he headed for his grave.

“I hate these things. This young man’s family does not want this to happen to someone else. Neither do I. Please, please, please — I am begging you on my knees…

On Tuesday March 5th, a Czech court acquitted the frontman of US heavy metal band LAMB OF GOD, Randy Blythe, of charges he caused the death of a fan at a concert in Prague three years ago. The prosecution had accused Blythe, 42, of causing the death of the 19-year old fan by pushing him off the stage at a 2010 concert.

If found guilty of manslaughter, Blythe faced up to ten years in prison. Daniel Nosek’s family was also demanding the equivalent of over $500,000 in damages. The State Attorney immediately announced his intention to appeal the verdict; he has eight days to put this in writing.

Blythe has now posted the following message: “I am leaving Prague now – I hope not to return for a long while. This has nothing to do with this city, the people who live here, or the Czech Republic itself at all. This is a wonderful place, and many people have been kind to me. Not a single soul here has been rude or mean to me at all, nor done me any harm – in fact it is quite the opposite. I have grown to love this city, for it is a marvelous, magical town. I encourage everyone to come visit here, to see this lovely country. But for me it is a place of great sadness.

While I am relieved that my innocence was proven and apparently I shall not be going to prison, I am in no way shape or form a happy man right now. The small inconveniences I have been through since my arrest are not noteworthy. People go through much worse daily and still keep a smile on their faces, but currently my smiles are far and few between. A young man is still dead, and his family still suffers. Please remember that fact. This family did no wrong, and have shown me great kindness – with silence, with actions, and finally with words- they spoke on my behalf to the court, and we had a private talk afterwards. All I will say about that is that they were very kind to me and displayed the utmost strength and class, and wished me a good life. They just want to get on with their lives the best they can. I wish them only the best, and will keep them in my thoughts and prayers. Please do the same- think good thoughts of them and healing thoughts for them. Trust me, they are good people, and I mean that from the bottom of my heart. They did NOTHING wrong.

This picture is from Kutna Hora, at the Sedlec Ossuary. I was there yesterday – like Prague, it is an amazing place. About this city, Kafka wrote: ‘Prague doesn’t let go…This old crone has claws. One has to yield, or else.’ I have found this to be true. I am yielding, I am leaving a part of myself here, I think. Some bit of me will always roam these streets at night, and that is only fitting. Now I will go home and try to see what good I can make come out the destruction that occurred here – it is the only correct thing to do. Rest in peace, Daniel Nosek.”

Yesterday, Tuesday March 5th, a Czech court acquitted the frontman of US heavy metal band LAMB OF GOD, Randy Blythe, of charges he caused the death of a fan at a concert in Prague three years ago.

Lamb Of God drummer Chris Adler has posted the following message: “We greatly appreciate and have been fortunate to have the support of our friends, families and fans from all over the world during a nightmare situation for us in Prague. We are now able to get back to work, but are still saddened by the loss of Daniel Nosek. The trial may be over, but the loss is forever and we also continue to mourn.”

ITV News has reported that LAMB OF GOD singer Randy Blythe has just been acquitted in a Czech court of causing the death of a fan three years ago.

The prosecution had accused Blythe, 42, of causing the death of the 19-year old fan by pushing him off the stage at a 2010 concert.

Earlier this year, Blythe stated:

“I feel ethically responsible to go back there and face this charge. [The victim’s] family right now is in a lot of pain, and they deserve some answers. To lose a child is the worst possible thing a human can go through, I think .. I want my name cleared. I have to go around the world and tour, you know. That’s what I do. I’m not going to hide here. I’m an innocent man. I’m going to go to court and see what happens.”

According to WTVR, LAMB OF GOD frontman Randy Blythe‘s manslaughter trial in Prague, Czech Republic resumed earlier today (Monday, March 4) after court was adjourned last month due to missing witnesses.

Blythe is facing the possibility of conviction and a long-term jail sentence after a May 2010 incident in which a fan, Daniel Nosek, who attended a LAMB OF GOD performance in Prague, died almost a month later, allegedly from injuries sustained when he was thrown off the stage.

A criminal psychologist appointed by the court, Tereza Soukupova, said that Blythe, during tests, demonstrated he had problems controlling his emotions. She said these features “were not deep” and that he was not mentally ill, but that he doesn’t take enough responsibility for his own actions, sometimes “crossing social norms.” She pointed to when Blythe was fined for speeding and urinating in public when he was younger.

A second criminal psychiatrist, Alena Gayova, who was appointed by the defense, said Blythe didn’t display any permanent “socially promiscuous” behavioral patterns. Even when in jail, when aggressive/anti-social behavior might be understandable, Gayova said Blythe showed normal results. She added he was not “overly aggressive.”

Also testifying today was an eyewitness, Anna Rozsivalova, who said Daniel attempted to climb the barrier to get onto the stage, but as he was pulling himself up, Blythe lifted him by the shoulders and pushed him off with two hands, from the front. She said Daniel fell backwards, and people moved away to avoid being hit.

A three-judge panel said it could deliver a verdict by tomorrow.

The parents of the alleged victim are demanding compensation of 10 million Czech Koruna (approximately $530,000).

LAMB OF GOD singer Randy Blythe returned to the US this week after it was announced in court that his trial on manslaughter charges in the death of a fan, Daniel Nosek, at a Prague concert over two years ago, would be delayed. Nosek’s parents are demanding compensation of 10 million Czech Koruna (approximately $530,000).

Blythe’s defense team asked for the delay because a key witness was sick, according to Prague Post reporter Jonathan Crane who is helping cover the trial for WTVR.com. The defense team wanted that witness to testify in person. Another witness is scheduled to testify Thursday, after which the trial will be postponed until March 4th, Crane said.

Blythe will be allowed to return to the US until his trial resumes. He indicated in court that he would definitely return to Prague next month, Crane said.

Blythe took to Instagram on February 12th and posted the following:

“I am back in Richmond, Virginia here in the U.S. of A., and I am certainly glad to see my home and friends here. But I shall return to Prague for the end of my trial, March 4 and 5. Hopefully it will finally be settled. The judge told me I did not have to return for the end of the trial, but my head and my heart will remain in Prague until I see this thing through.

Prague has built a strange place for itself in my heart. It is a beautiful place, one I have gotten to know rather well, and even love to a degree. But it is a city of contrasts for me, for I see Prague’s beauty through a lens of tragedy. The city and what brought me there will always remain with me for the rest of my life. I must pay attention to the nature of this dichotomy, and learn its lesson, no matter what happens.

Nothing has just one side to it, and I believe it is a mistake to judge things immediately by exterior appearances alone. For example, take this clock. Prague has many, many, many towers and clocks, including the astronomical one in Old Town Square. The astronomical clock is one of the coolest clocks I have ever seen. People from all over the world gather every hour to watch it strike the hour, with all its mechanized statues popping out and spinning around. It’s basically a gigantic version of the world’s coolest cuckoo clock. Prague has many other cool clock towers as well.

Someone might look at this tired old clock and say, ‘Ugh! Tear that thing down! Why would you have that clock when there are so many others here that are so pretty?’ But to me, this clock is beautiful. It holds a strange place in my heart, like Prague itself. The clock is beautiful to me because in there, in Pankrác Prison, it was the only way I had to tell time for a long while.

After my last day in court recently, my wife, a friend, and I took the subway over to Pankrác. I needed to see it, to take pictures, to look at what was my home for over a month. It was a strange feeling returning there, and I think some wouldn’t do it. I don’t know. My trial is not over yet. I could return to a cell behind these walls. But I just wanted to see the place. The outside is nothing like the inside; once again, the dichotomy of my life in Prague.

We walked the entire perimeter of the prison, through neighborhoods with nice gated houses and grim-looking apartment high rises. I kept looking for my cell until I found it. It is the tiny square you see in the middle of this picture. That was my last cell, on the top floor, where I could look out and see where I took this picture from. I used to stare at the apartment building I took this picture from and wonder what was happening in there. Most of the time, I was in the basement, though, and the view from my cell window looked something like this picture, without as much sky. Without much of a view, I had to look inside myself. Dichotomy.

Pankrác is a grim place, but I kept my spirits up in there. If I felt sorry for myself, I quickly reminded myself that there are many in the world who would be grateful to have the food I had, to escape a war-torn homeland in exchange for three hits and a cot, even in a prison for a bit. Suddenly being thrown into a foreign prison wasn’t fun, but it wasn’t the worst thing that could happen to a man. I had food, clothes, and shelter.

Remain grateful for what you DO have, not resentful over what you DON’T.

We finished walking and got on a subway back to the center of Prague. I was glad I came to look at the prison. I would love to have a camera in there — it’s amazing inside, in a really messed up way.

I do not know what the future holds for me. Maybe I will return to behind these walls, but I do know that I have to do the right thing as my conscience dictates. For me, that is going back to finish the trial, as I said I would.

The family of the young man who is dead is in court every day, along with mine. They have shown remarkable kindness by not attacking me in the press or anywhere else. It must be very difficult for them to look at my face, regardless of my guilt or innocence. They have behaved honorably, and so shall I. I will do my best to give them the answers they deserve. I ask people not to judge the family of this young man for wanting these answers. Their family has lost a son. Who would not want answers? I’m not so sure I would have displayed the class and reserve they have if the tables were turned.

Remember, no story has just one side. Try to look at everything from different angles, to not make snap judgements. Put yourself in another’s shoes for a second. Otherwise we all just remain in a prison of our own making.

Thanks for all your support. I will put up some cheerier pictures soon, I promise.”

Blythe was held in custody in the Czech Republic after being arrested on suspicion of manslaughter by Czech police at the Prague airport on Wednesday, June 27th. It is alleged that during a May 24th, 2010 Lamb Of God concert, Blythe pushed the 19-year-old fan, who had climbed onstage, back into the audience. The fan lapsed into a coma and died of bleeding in the brain fourteen days later.

More of WTVR.com’s coverage of the Randy Blythe trial can be found at this location.